The ultimate pregnancy to-do list: First trimester

Use this list to keep on track with all your first-trimester tasks, from making sure you're really pregnant to lining up a caregiver and creating a baby budget. And don't worry about checking off every item – just use this as a helpful guide.

Activities for your first trimester

Make sure you're really pregnant

Most home pregnancy tests can accurately detect pregnancy in the week after your period is normally due – two weeks after you ovulate. If the test shows a negative or a faintly positive result, wait another few days or a week and try again if you still haven't gotten your period.

Take your prenatal vitaminIf you haven't started taking a prenatal vitamin yet, now's the time to start. It's particularly critical to get enough folic acid while trying to conceive and during your first trimester. Folic acid greatly reduces your baby's risk of developing neural tube birth defects such as spina bifida.

Investigate health insuranceMake sure you know what your health insurance plan covers as far as your prenatal care and delivery costs, as well as care for your new baby. Get answers to these questions by calling your health insurance provider or talking to your company's benefits department. If you don't have health insurance, find out where you can get help.

Choose a caregiverIf you already have a caregiver you love (who cares for pregnant women and delivers babies), you're set. If not, you've got some homework to do. Talk to friends and relatives, ask one of your other healthcare providers to recommend someone, check out the preferred providers under your health insurance plan, or search online.

Many caregivers won't see you until you're at least 8 weeks pregnant, but you'll want to get on their calendar well before this since appointments can fill up fast.

To prepare, jot down the first day of your last period so your caregiver can determine your due date and start making a list of any questions that arise. Talk to relatives on both sides about your families' medical histories. Your caregiver will want to know whether any chronic conditions or genetic abnormalities run in either of your families.

Consult your caregiver about medications you're takingMany drugs – even some over-the-counter ones – aren't safe during pregnancy. If you take any medications to treat a chronic condition, don't stop cold turkey but do call your caregiver right away to go through your medication list and find out what's safe and what's not. Mention everything, even vitamins, supplements, and herbs.

Smoking raises your risk of a host of problems, including miscarriage, placental problems, and preterm birth. It also slows fetal growth and increases the risk of stillbirth and infant death. Some research has even linked smoking to a greater risk of having a baby with a cleft lip or palate.

It's never too late to quit or cut back. Every cigarette you don't light gives your baby a better chance of being healthy.

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